servants' remedy was in their own hands。
Amiable as was Mr。 Rivers； this； merely from indulgence and want of
reflection； was his principle； and his daughter had only been acting
on it； though she did not know it； till the feelings that she had
never thought of were thus displayed before her。 These were her
first practical lessons that life was not meant to be passed in
pleasing ourselves； and being good…natured at small cost。
It was an effort。 Meta was very dependent； never having been
encouraged to be otherwise； and Bellairs was like a necessary of life
in her estimation； but strength of principle came to aid her
naturally kind…hearted feeling； and she was pleased by the idea of
voluntarily undergoing a privation so as to test her sincerity。
So when her father told her of the inconvenient times of the trains；
and declared that Bellairs must give it up； she answered by proposing
to let her sleep a night or two there； gaily promised to manage very
well； and satisfied him。
Her maid's grateful looks and thanks recompensed her when she made
the offer to her； and inspirited her to an energetic coaxing of Mrs。
Larpent； who； being more fully aware than her father of the
needfulness of the lady's…maid； and also very anxious that her
darling should appear to the best advantage before the expected aunt；
Lady Leonora Langdale； was unwilling to grant more than one night at
the utmost。
Meta carried the day； and her last assurance to Bellairs was that she
might stay as long as seemed necessary to make her mother
comfortable。
Thereupon Meta found herself more helpful in some matters than she
had expected； but at a loss in others。 Susan； with all Mrs。
Larpent's supervision； could not quite bring her dress to the air
that was so peculiarly graceful and becoming； and she often caught
her papa's eye looking at her as if he saw something amiss； and could
not discover what it was。 Then came Aunt Leonora； always very kind
to Meta； but the dread of the rest of the household； whom she was
wont to lecture on the proper care of her niece。 Miss Rivers was
likely to have a considerable fortune； and Lady Leonora intended her
to be a very fashionable and much admired young lady； under her own
immediate protection。
The two cousins； Leonora and Agatha； talked to her； the one of her
balls； the other of her musicpatronised her； and called her their
good little cousinwhile they criticised the stiff set of those
unfortunate plaits made by Susan； and laughed； as if it was an
unheard…of concession； at Bellairs's holiday。
Nevertheless； when 〃Honoured Miss〃 received a note； begging for three
days' longer grace； till a niece should come； in whom Bellairs could
place full confidence； she took it on herself to return free consent。
Lady Leonora found out what she had done； and reproved her； telling
her it was only the way to make 〃those people〃 presume； and Mrs。
Larpent was also taken to task； but； decidedly； Meta did not regret
what she had done； though she felt as if she had never before known
how to appreciate comfort； when she once more beheld Bellairs
stationed at her toilette table。
Meta was asked about her friends。 She could not mention any one but
Mrs。 Charles Wilmot and the Misses May。
〃Physician's daughters； oh！〃 said Lady Leonora。
And she proceeded to exhort Mr。 Rivers to bring his daughter to
London； or its neighbourhood； where she might have masters； and be in
the way of forming intimacies suited to her connections。
Mr。 Rivers dreaded Londonnever was well there； and did not like the
trouble of movingwhile Meta was so attached to the Grange； that she
entreated him not to think of leaving it； and greatly dreaded her
aunt's influence。 Lady Leonora did； indeed； allow that the Grange
was a very pretty place； her only complaint was the want of suitable
society for Meta； she could not bear the idea of her growing
accustomedfor want of something betterto the vicar's wife and the
pet doctor's daughters。
Flora had been long desirous to effect a regular call at Abbotstoke；
and it was just now that she succeeded。 Mrs。 Charles Wilmot's little
girl was to have a birthday feast； at which Mary； Blanche； and Aubrey
were to appear。 Flora went in charge of them； and as soon as she had
safely deposited them； and appointed Mary to keep Aubrey out of
mischief； she walked up to the Grange； not a whit daunted by the
report of the very fine ladies who were astonishing the natives of
Abbotstoke。
She was admitted； and found herself in the drawing…room； with a quick
lively…looking lady； whom she perceived to be Lady Leonora； and who
instantly began talking to her very civilly。 Flora was never at a
loss； and they got on extremely well； her ease and self…possession；
without forwardness； telling much to her advantage。 Meta came in；
delighted to see her； but； of course； the visit resulted in no really
intimate talk； though it was not without effect。 Flora declared Lady
Leonora Langdale to be a most charming person； and Lady Leonora； on
her side； asked Meta who was that very elegant conversible girl。
〃Flora May；〃 was the delighted answer； now that the aunt had
committed herself by commendation。 And she did not retract it； she
pronounced Flora to be something quite out of the common way； and
supposed that she had had unusual advantages。
Mr。 Rivers took care to introduce to his sister…in…law Dr。 May （who
would fain have avoided it）； but ended by being in his turn pleased
and entertained by her brilliant conversation； which she put forth
for him； as her instinct showed her that she was talking to a man of
high ability。 A perfect gentleman she saw him to be； and making out
some mutual connections far up in the family tree of the Mackenzies；
she decided that the May family were an acquisition； and very good
companions for her niece at present； while not yet come out。 So
ended the visit； with this great triumph for Meta； who had a strong
belief in Aunt Leonora's power and infallibility； and yet had not
consulted her about Bellairs； nor about the school question。
She had missed one Sunday's school on account of her aunt's visit；
but the resolution made beside Margaret's sofa had not been
forgotten。 She spent her Saturday afternoon in a call on Mrs。
Wilmot； ending with a walk through the village； she confessed her
ignorance； apologised for her blunders； and put herself under the
direction which once she had fancied too strict and harsh to be
followed。
And on Sunday she was content to teach the stupid girls； and abstain
from making much of the smooth…faced engaging set。 She thought it
very dull work； but she could feel that it was something not done to
please herself； and whereas her father had feared she would be dull
when her cousins were gone； he found her more joyous than ever。
There certainly was a peculiar happiness about Margaret Rivers； her
vexations were but ripples； rendering the sunny course of her life
more sparkling； and each exertion in the way of goodness was
productive of so much present joy that the steps of her ladder
seemed； indeed； to be of diamonds。
Her ladderfor she was； indeed； mounting upwards。 She was very
earnest in her Confirmation preparation； most anxious to do right and
to contend with her failings； but the struggle at present was easy；
and the hopes； joys； and incentives shone out more and more upon her
in this blithe stage of her life。
She knew there was a dark side； but hope and love were more present
to her than was fear。 Happy those to whom such young days are
granted。
CHAPTER XXIV。
It is the generous spirit； who； when brought
Among the tasks of real life； hath wrought
Upon the plan that pleased his childish thought；
Whose high endeavours are an inward light；
Making the path before him always bright。
WORDSWORTH。
The holidays had commenced about a week when Harry； now duly
appointed to H。 M。 S。 Alcestis； was to come home on leave； as he
proudly expressed it。
A glad troop of brothers and sisters； with the doctor himself； walked
up to the station to meet him； and who was happiest when； from the
window； was thrust out the rosy face； with the gold band？ Mary gave
such a shriek and leap； that two passengers and one guard turned
round to look at her； to the extreme discomfiture of Flora and
Norman； evidenced by one by a grave 〃Mary！ Mary！〃 by the other； by
walking off to the extreme end of the platform； and trying to look as
if he did not belong to them； in which he was imitated by his shadow；
Tom。
Sailor already； rather than schoolboy； Harry cared not for
spectators； his bound from the carriage； and the hug between him； and
Mary would have been worthy of the return from the voyage。 The next
greeting was for his father； and the sisters had had their share by
the time the two brothers thought fit to return from their calm walk
on the platform。
Grand was it to see that party return to the townthe naval cadet；
with his arm linked in Mary's； and Aubrey clinging to his hand； and
the others walking behind； admiring him as he turned his bright face
every moment with some glad question or answer； 〃How was Margaret？〃
Oh； so much better； she had been able to walk across the room； with
Norman's arm round herthey hoped she would soon use crutchesand
she sat up more。 〃And the baby？〃 More charming than everfour
teethwould soon walksuch a darling！ Then came 〃my dirk； the
ship； our berth。〃 〃Papa； do ask Mr。 Ernescliffe to come here。 I
know he could get leave。〃
〃Mr。 Ernescliffe！ You used to call him Alan！〃 said Mary。
〃Yes； but that is all over now。 You forget what we do on board。
Captain Gordon himself calls me Mr。 May！〃
Some laughed； others were extremely impressed。
〃Ha！ There's Ned Anderson coming；〃 cried Mary。 〃Now！ Let him see
you； Harry。〃
〃What matters Ned Anderson to me？〃 said Harry； and； with an odd
mixture of shamefacedness and cordiality； he marched full up to his
old school…fellow； and shook hands with him； as if able； in the
plenitude of his officership； to afford plenty of good…humoured
superiority。 Tom had meantime subsided out of all view。 But poor
Harry's exultation had a fall。
〃Wel